Tottenham's signing of young English defender Eric Dier has seen the London club jump the gun a little on Premier League rivals that were yet to make their move for the Sporting Lisbon star.

A fee of £4 million, and signing him up on a five-year deal, seems great business for such a promising player, yet the fact Spurs put forward that amount meant they met his release clause, and led to a switch to Premier League football becoming a possibility.

With Michael Dawson taking an ankle knock in Saturday's friendly with Celtic, it looks like Dier may find himself in with a chance of breaking into the first team sooner rather than later.

So without further ado, below we take a closer look at the numbers behind Mauricio Pochettino's new signing.

32 - The number of games Dier has played at the top level of Portuguese football, all of which have come over the last two seasons. The centre back has split them across the two campaigns, with 14 in each league season and 4 across the Portuguese League Cup.

10 - The age Dier was when his family moved to Portugal. His mother had been offered a job ahead of the country's 2004 European Championships, and they then remained there for the rest of his childhood. Dier quickly signed up for the Sporting Lisbon academy, going on to star at various levels.

1 - The amount of times the defender has found the net while playing for the Sporting senior team. His one strike, in his side's 2-2 draw with Moreirense in the league, was a sweet left foot half volley, showing Spurs fans that they may be signing another defender with the touch of Jan Vertonghen.

7 - The amount of cards Dier has received in his Portuguese football career. He was sent off on his debut in the League Cup in 2012, but has only received two bookings in the rest of his senior appearances. The rest of his yellow cards have come turning out for Sporting's reserve side.

5 - The amount of Under-21 caps Dier has won for England. He had been regularly involved in the FA's youth sides from the age of 17, and the 20-year-old made his debut at Under-21 level just last August, in the side's 6-0 demolition of Scotland, making 4 more appearances by the end of the season. He is sure to add to this number now he will be based in England.

17 - How old Dier was when he took in a loan spell at Everton. Then Toffees boss David Moyes was happy to look after the youngster, who was by then already acknowledged as a prospect, but decided against pursuing him for transfer.

2 - The amount of countries Dier is eligible to play for. Though he is very much in the England youth setup at the moment, he has been approached in the past regarding turning out for the country he spent so many years in, and until he turns out for England's senior side in a competitive fixture, he will be able to switch allegiances to Portugal.

Verdict – With his potential, and his ability to play in a variety of defensive positions, Dier looks a snip at £4 million - especially when Arsenal have paid closer to £16 million for their own promising defender in Calum Chambers.

What's more, it is clear that signing an Englishman with influences from such a different footballing culture could be a masterstroke in marrying continental and British styles at Spurs.

Don't be surprised to see Dier impress this season at White Hart Lane, and given the current opening for central defensive stars for England, he could even be in with a chance of making the nation's 2016 Euro squad.

Do you think Eric Dier is a bargain signing?

Che Thomas

Che is an Englishman abroad unable to cut the apron strings tying him to the crazy world of English football. As a writer and freelance journalist, he has covered matches and cultural events from across the globe all with the intention to inform, entertain and provoke debate. Just as smitten with music, film, and photography, though fully aware of the fact that nothing takes the place of that Saturday afternoon excitement down at N17 (even when it's actually on a Sunday!)